Martin Blake

Many international students would like to study art and design in Britain. They are unable to do so because their national education systems do not give them the opportunity to develop the portfolio of art work needed to apply to study at a UK art college. This nine-week course combines studio and workshop practice with one day's English Language teaching per week* giving you the chance to build your portfolio and continue your English Language studies while living and working in central London. The course works with the college's International Office to ensure that the curriculum is regularly updated so that, upon successfully completing the course, entry to a foundation-level course is very likely.

*For students who do not require English Language studies additional projects will be set to allow you to continue your portfolio work.

Aims of the course
The objective of this full-time programme of study is to enable you to develop the necessary knowledge and practical skills for entry on to a foundation-level course. This includes observational, analytical and research skills, the control of materials and processes in the realisation of ideas, the capacity to evaluate your work and the work of others and to establish communication skills with particular reference to language used to discuss work in the studio. The curriculum is regularly reviewed by academic staff to ensure that it is meeting the criteria required by foundation-level admission tutors. A very large percentage of students who successfully complete this course will be successful in their application to the Foundation Diploma courses at Central Saint Martins or a foundation-level course elsewhere.

"The success of Orientation is easily measured when you consider that in 2007-8 100% of the students who successfully completed their 9-week course were offered a place on the Foundation Diploma course at Central Saint Martins. This is testament to the team of tutors who guide students through the application process with a combination of individual support, high expectations and demanding projects."
Cally Saunders
Course Director, Foundation Diploma in Art and Design, Central Saint Martins.

Structure
At the beginning of the course you are given a timetable of projects, which enables you to prepare for tasks that lie ahead, and will help you evaluate and digest completed work. Beginning with basic drawing and observational skills, the coursework will progress through painting and colour theory, life drawing, 3D construction projects, clay and plaster casting, architectural drawing, photomedia and design for the body. There will also be projects based around visits to local museums and galleries. All projects must be completed and the final part of the course will involve producing an exhibition of completed work. Progress on the course is regularly evaluated through tutorials that are scheduled as part of the timetable. Students are asked to provide their own materials for drawing - all other specialist materials are provided.

English Language
The English language tuition will emphasise speaking and listening skills especially within the context of English used in the art college environment. It will also include discussions about specialist art and design subjects and visits to museums and galleries. Students entering the course are given a timetable of projects, enabling them to prepare for tasks that lie ahead as well as evaluate and digest completed work. All projects must be completed. Progress on the course is regularly evaluated through tutorials which will be scheduled as part of the timetable.

Course Outcomes
The objective of this full-time programme of study is to enable students to develop the necessary knowledge and practical skills for entry on to a Foundation course. This includes observational, analytical and research skills, the control of materials and processes in the realisation of ideas, the capacity to evaluate your work and the work of others and to establish communication skills with particular reference to studio language.

Entry Requirements
Applicants should be at IELTS level 4 in English language and should have started to establish a portfolio of drawings. All applicants must be interviewed or submit a portfolio of recent work before being accepted on to the course.

Open Day:  If you would like to attend an Open Day, please reserve a place by emailing portfolio@csm.arts.ac.uk

• Tuesday 22nd May, 2pm at 10 Back Hill, London EC1R 5EN
  

Dates:
Course 1: 10/10/2011 – 09/12/2011
Course 2: 16/01/2012 – 16/03/2012
Course 3: 23/04/2012 – 22/06/2012
Course 4: 25/06/2012 – 24/08/2012

Day of Week: Monday to Friday

Time: 10:00 - 16:00

Duration: 9 weeks

Cost: £3,680 per term

Location: Back Hill (Courses 1, 2 & 3) and Elthorne Road (Course 4)

Download the Full-Time-Portfolio-Preparation-Application-Form  [PDF, 52 KB]

Other courses that will help with applying to Orientation to Art and Design are:

Beginners Drawing
Beginners Painting
Creative Drawing
Developing Your Drawing
Drawing Now
Drawing Portfolio
Etching
Evening Painting
Experimental Printmaking
Foundation in Drawing
Introduction to Drawing
Introduction to Sculpture
Life Drawing
Total Drawing
Towards Abstraction

See www.csm.arts.ac.uk/shortcourse for further information.